Innovation projects that aim to help deliver a resilient network for net zero have been awarded a combined total of nearly £300,000.
The projects, led by SSEN Transmission, have received funding through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK that supports network innovation.
This includes £149,612 for the ODIN project, a partnership with tech company Ross Robotics that aims to develop automated methods for interpreting and diagnosing data collected by robots operating in high voltage direct current (HVDC) halls.
Last year, SSEN Transmission deployed a new autonomous robot to help check electrical equipment at its Blackhillock HVDC switching station in Aberdeenshire – the first deployment of its kind in Scotland.
Known as EXTRM MK4.1 – but named ‘Haggis’ in a competition involving local schoolchildren – it has been developed by Ross Robotics to help monitor and inspect electrical components, identifying any faults or future maintenance requirements.
The SIF funding will be used to develop artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques that will interpret the data captured by Haggis, uncovering new insights into HVDC asset behaviour to improve operational efficiency and support the development of a reliable and resilient network for net zero.
Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission has also received £139,663 for a project that will examine ways to enhance the process of route design for new overhead line projects, in line with recommendations contained within a 2023 report by the UK Government’s independent Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser.
Working with other transmission operators and with the National Energy Systems Operator, the RAPID project will identify and prioritise innovations for route design, with the aim of standardising the process to help build stakeholder confidence in route selection.
Alan Ritchie, Senior Innovation Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: “Innovation plays a key role in our work to upgrade the transmission network in the north of Scotland, and we’ve been on an exciting innovation journey over the past year – with ODIN and RAPID among an extensive portfolio of sector-leading projects.
“Overall, we anticipate our current portfolio has the potential to generate upwards of £190 million in benefits by the end of the 2026-31 price control period (RIIO-T3), demonstrating our substantial contributions to the sector and our dedication to using innovation to deliver a sustainable, resilient, and efficient electricity network for the future.”